West Ham United's Wales international midfielder Jack Collison is preparing for a lengthy battle to return to full fitness, having undergone surgery on a long-standing knee problem.
The 21-year-old has not featured for the Hammers since late February and accepts that he faces some hard work over the summer.
He told the club's official website:"I had the op and then it was a case of resting the knee. I have crutches now and have started the first part of the rehab I have to do.
"This includes ten to 12 hours a day doing machine work, to get the knee and the muscles stronger again.
"It is long days at the moment, but now that I have started the rehab I feel I am doing something. I know that I have a long way to go.
"I have had the operation now, which I needed to have and I am glad it is all done and is out of the way now. I am now just aiming to work as hard as I can now on getting back to fitness.
"I am expected to be doing this for at least another three weeks and will then be able to push on a bit more with more mobile work.
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"I can't wait to get rid of the crutches. When I can throw them off, I will be very happy.
"Although the rehab is a long process and there is a lot of work ahead, this first part is important and I am getting through okay."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email